Curtain stretcher and support therefor



March 10, 1953 D. G. AMADO 2,630,652

CURTAIN STRETCHER AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Feb. 5. 1949 By i? Patented Mar. 10,4M 1953 CURTAIN s'rnEToHEn AND VSUPPORT THEREFOR Dora G. Amado,Long Beach, N. Y.

Application February 5, 1949, Serial No. 74,777

8 Claims.

This inventions-relates to curtain stretchers, and more particularly-to l.am curtain stretcher of the pinless type.

The present application is a continuation in part of my copf.=.nding` application Ser. No. 754,- 305,1iled June 1 2, 1947,.,now abandoned.

It is the primary. object ofthe present inventionl to provide a stretcher which vis more quickly applied to a curtain, requires for its application to a curtain less skill, and stretches a curtain more uniformly, thanthe well-known pin-type curtain stretchers r It is another important object of the present invention to provide a' stretcher which, in contrast to the pin-type curtain stretchers,"is not liable to tear a curtain being stretched.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present'invention will be' more fully understood from the following Vdescription considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 shows al curtain mounted on a stretcher which embodies the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a few of the disconnected elements of the stretcher at a larger scale than in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged corner of a type of 'curtain which may be mounted on the instant stretcher;

Fig. 4 is '.Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a curtain mounted on a stretcher which embodies the present invention in a modiiedmanner' l, a

Fig. 6 shows the disconnected elements of the modified stretcher at a larger scale than in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective' view of a frame on which either curtain stretcher may be mounted; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary sections taken on the lines 8-'3 and 9 9, respectively, of Figs -l Referring to Fig.- l, the reference numeral I designates a curtain stretcher which comprises a plurality of readily connectible and disconnecti ble parts that are appliedto a curtain I2.

An example of a curtain suitable for mounting on the instant stretcher I0 is illustrated in Figs. i, 3 and 4. Thus, the curtainlZ may be provided with an endless pocketj I4L along the margins thereof, the pocketbeing conveniently formed by folding back the outer` margins of the body I6 of the curtain and Vsewing `them to the latter as at fI. In order to gainacce'ss-to the endless pocket 'i4 in the curtain I2, the stitching I8 may conmenienny be interrupted atoneor more of the a section taken' on the line 4--4 of curtain corners to provide passages 20 through which to introduce the separate parts of the curtain stretcher I0 into the pocket.

The curtain stretcher IU comprises, in the present instance, four preferably identical corner pieces 22 which may be the elbow shape shown in Fig. 2. The corner pieces 22, which may be made of any suitable, preferably. round material, such as wood or plastic, for instance, are provided with holes orsockets 24 for the reception of the ends of rods 26 that may be made of any suitable bar stock, such as wood or plastic. In the present instance, there are provided four of these rods 26 which, in the assembled state of the stretcher, are interposed between the corner pieces 22 in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

The disassembled parts 22 and 26` of the stretcher are inserted into the endless pocket I4 in the curtain I2 through the passages 20 thereof, in such order that they are, on their successive insertion, in position for ready connection with each other. The curtain I2, which is usually made of more or less stretchable material, such as lace, is thereupon stretched, longitudinally as well as laterally, sufficiently to permit the insertion of the ends of the rods 26 into the confronting sockets 24 in the adjacent corner pieces 22. Thus, all of the several disassembled parts 22 and 26 of the stretcher may rst be inserted into the endless pocket I4 in the curtain and subsequently connected with eachother, their connection re `quiring momentary stretching of the curtain beyond the extent to which the same will be stretched by the assembled stretcher ID.

Another, and perhaps preferred, way to apply the present stretcher to the curtain I2 is to insert the corner pieces 22 Vand rods 26 into the endless `corner pocket I4, in such order that they may directly be connected `with each other on their insertion into the pocket I4. The disassembly of the assembled stretcher I0 and the removal of the parts 22 and 26 thereof from the endless pocket I4 in the curtain is fully obvious from the preceding description.

While the present stretcher I0 may be applied to a curtain having a continuous pocket, as described, it is obvious that the stretcher may with equal advantage be applied to curtains having pockets interrupted at the corners, or to curtains having two opposed pockets along the top and bottom, for instance. Also, in order to accommodate curtains of varying sizes, the instant stretcher may be provided with interchangeable rods 2E of diierent lengths.

Fig. 5 shows a modified stretcher In applied to a curtain I2' which may in a=ll respects be like the curtain shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The modified stretcher l, which also comprises separate connectible and disconnectible parts, is distinguished from the earlier described stretcher l by requiring considerably fewer parts than the latter. Thus, the modified stretcher ID' omits the separate corner pieces of the stretcher Ill, and instead combines each corner piece with a rod as an integral part. The modified stretcher it consists, in the present instance, of four parts 36, 30', 32 and 32', of which the parts Zillil and 30 and the parts 32 and-32 form identi-cal pairs, respectively. The parts 3i), 3B and 32, 32 may be made from any suitable bar stock, such as wood or plastic, and each of these parts is of the general L shape shown in Figs. 5 and 6, so as to include a. corner of the stretcher l0 in its assembled form.

. For the application of the stretcher l', the

disassembled parts 30, 30 and 32, 32' are inserted in any suitable order into the endless Curtain pocket l through the passages 2i! thereof., so that. each inserted part will form a corner of the stretcher to bg assembled. The curtain is, on the insertion of the stretcher parts in the pocket I4 therein, suiiciently stretched, longitudinally as well as laterally, in order to bring the confronting end surfaces vof the adjacent stretcher parts into abutting engagement with` each other (Fig. In the present instance, it is this end-to-end abutting engagement of the stretcher parts which is solely relied on to hold Vthat the cross-sectional area of the. bar stock selected for the stretcher parts is such that the latter are prevented by the. surrounding curtain pocket M from becoming laterally displaced from their abutting end-to-end engagement.

Thev instant curtain` stretcher I0' lends itself most readily to adjustment to different sizes, by merely interposing bar inserts (not shown) between the adjacent end surfaces of the parts of the stretcher. may .be provided with bar inserts of different lengths in order to render the stretcher applicable to curtains of varying sizes. The bar inserts, which are preferably made from the same bar stock as, the stretcher parts 3B, Sil', 32 and 32', will safely be held in abutting end-toend 'engagement with the adjacent stretcher parts between which they are interposed, by the curtain pocket I4 which as above explained, prevents lateral displacement of the stretcher parts 3i), 3,0', 32 and 32 wherever they are in direct end-.to-end abutting engagement.

Fig. 7 shows a frame 4G for supporting either curtain stretcher lll or I0. In the present instance, the frame 40 is shown supporting the modied stretcher I0 with a curtain thereon. The frame 46 comprises front and rear legs 42 and ell, respectively, which are suitably secured to a frame-like stretcher support 46. The legs l2 and t4 may be reinforced by transverse braces 4d. The support 4S of the frame 40 is preferably provided in its front face 50 with a continuous groove 52 (see also Figs. 8 and 9) for the reception of the stretcher Hl and curtain I2 thereon in located position on the frame Ml. The stretcher l0' and curtain thereon may conveniently be held in correctly located position on the support 46 of the frame 4D by simple spring clamps 6B, for instance, which may readily be Thus.. the instant stretcher lil' 4 sprung over the support 46 and located stretcher thereon in the manner shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The frame 40 is equally adaptable for the support of the -curtain stretcher I0 and curtain thereon, the corner pieces 22 of the stretcher being adapted for reception in the corresponding corners of the continuous groove 52 in the frame support 46, and the spring clamps 60 being similarly applied, as before,v in order to hold the located stretcher I0 and curtain thereon on the frame support 46.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention Without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A stretcher for a curtain having pockets ,along at leastv two opposite margins thereof, re-

spectively', comprising rods extensible through` the curtain pockets, respectively, and members removably interposable between the adjacent ends, respectively, of said rods for holding the latter spread apart in position to stretch the curtain, said members and rods having smooth. unemcumbered surfaces to facilitate the insertion thereof into the curtain pockets and to prevent damage to the latter.

2. A stretcher for a curtain having an endless pocket along the margins thereof, comprising separate bars having smoothr uninterrupted peripheral surfaces and being insertable in the curtain pocket and having means for removably connecting them said pocket in end-to-end relation with each other to form. a rigid frame on which the curtain is stretched, the surfaces of said bars and connecting means being unencumbered to facilitate the insertion thereof into the curtain pocket and to prevent damage to the latter.

3. A stretcher for a curtain having an endless pocket alone. the margins thereof. comprising separate rigid rods insertable in the curtain pocket to extend along the margins, respective/ly, of the curtain, and separate connectors also insertable in the curtain pocket and having sockets releasably to receive the adjacent ends of said rods and form with the latter a., rigid f rame on which the curtain is stretched, said rods and connections having Smooth unencumbered surfaces to facilitate the insertion thereof into the curtain pocket and to prevent damage to the latter,

4. A stretcher lfor a rectangular curtain havine an endless pocket along the margins thereof. comprising separate ,rigid rods insertable in the curtain pocket to extend along the margins, respectivoly. of the curtain. sind separate corner members also insertable in` the curtain pocket and having rectangularly disposed sockets releasably to receive the adjacent ends of said rods and form with the latter a rigid rectangular lframe on which the curtain is stretched, said rods and. members having smooth unencumbered surfaces to Afailitate the insertion thereof into the curtain pocket and to prevent damage to the latter.

5. A stretcher for a. rectangular curtain having an endless pocket along the margins thereof, Comprising separate rigid rods insertable in the curtain pocket to extend along the margins, respectively, of the curtain, and separate elbow-shaped corner members also insertable in the curtain pocket and having in their ends rectangularly disposed sockets re1easab1y to receive the adjacent ends of said rods and form with the latter a rigid rectangular frame on which the curtain is stretched, said rods and members having smooth unencumbered surfaces to facilitate the insertion thereof into the curtain pocket and to prevent damage to the latter.

6. A stretcher for a quadri-lateral curtain having an endless pocket along the margins thereof, comprising four separate rods of L-shape having plane end faces and being insertable in said curtain pocket in such relation therein that the bend in the L of each rod occupies a corner of the curtain, said rods being of such lengths relative to the curtain that they stretch the latter longitudinally and laterally when the inserted rods are engaged with their adjacent end faces in abutting relation, said abutting face-to-face engagement of said rods solely holding the latter in their assembled relation in the curtain pocket.

7. A support for a curtain stretcher comprised of bars adapted to be inserted and connected in an endless marginal pocket of a curtain to be stretched, said support comprising a frame having a continuous groove in a face thereof in Which removably to place the stretcher bars, and means on said frame for` releasably clamping the stretcher bars in the groove in said frame.

8. A stretcher for a rectangular curtain having an endless pocket along the margins thereof, comprising separate rigid rods insertable in the curtain pocket to extend along the margins, respectively, of the curtain, and separate corner members also insertable in the curtain pocket and having rectangularly disposed sockets releasably to receive the adjacent ends of said rods and form with the latter a rigid rectangular frame on which the curtain is stretched, said rods and members having smooth unencumbered surfaces to facilitate the insertion thereof into the curtain pocket and to prevent damage to the latter, said corner members being of integral construction and said sockets being defined therein.

DORA G. AMADO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 362,230 Schaubel May 3, 1887 388,035 Gegauf Aug. 21, 1888 759,840 Brand May 10, 1904 898,047 Harford Sept. 8, 1908 1,099,959 Wylie June 16, 1914 1,296,297 Latham Mar. 4, 1919 1,965,644 Heielflnger July 10, 1934 2,321,216 Lesko June 8, 1943 2,455,640 Ashbaugh Dec. 7, 1948 

